Ticket machine



c. DoDl-:GGE 2,321,545

- TICKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 June 8, 1943.

ll Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8, 1943. "c. DODEGGE 2,321,545

TICKET MACH-INE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 3, 1943 c. poDE-GGE 2,321,545

TIQKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 T fr??? 61 50,9 if fm `lune 8, 1943.

C. DODEGGE TICKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 lm 'Hull' 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 C. DODEGGE TICKET MACHINE June 8, 1943.

.11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 24. 1942 June 8, 1943- c. DoDl-:GGE

TICKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 8, 1943. C. DODEGGE TICKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 11 Shee't s-Sheet 7 June 8, 1943. c. DODEGGE 2,321,545

TICKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 1l Sheets-Sheet 8 June 8, 1943. c. DODEGGE 2,321,545

TICKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 figg/f f7 ff f- 78 v (Ik, er. de

June 8, 1943. c', DODEGGE TICKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24,y 1942 1l Sheets-Sheet 10 June 8, 1943. c.'DoDEGGE 2,321,545

y TICKET MACHINE Filed Feb. 24, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 offri/lf: ys,

Patented June 8, 1943 UNHTED STATES EN" rica TICKET MACHINE Application February 24, 1942, Serial No. 432,165

57 Claims.

This invention relates to ticket issuing machines and more particularly to that type of ticket issuing machine embodying a plurality of keys and adapted to automatically issue a predetermined number of tickets upon actuation of one of the keys; the number of issued tickets depending upon the key actuated.

Ticket issuing machines of the character involved herein are primarily intended for use in theatres and the like, where it is desirable to use machines which are capable of issuing tickets of various denominations and which will accurately register the number of different tickets so issued.

Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide a practical and eicient ticket issuing machine embodying a plurality of associated ticket issuing units each of which units is adapted to issue tickets of a given denomination and each of which will accurately register the number of tickets of that denomination which are so issued.

In machines of the aforesaid character inasmuch as single tickets or groups' of two or three or more tickets of each denomination will be sold to a customer at different times, it is also desirable that each of the various units be adapted to issue a variable but predetermined number of tickets.

ya ticket issuing machine,- which is driven by an electric motor, and wherein the motor remains stationary except during a ticket issuing cycle of operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ticket issuing machinewhich, upon depression of any one of the keys, will issue the correct corresponding predetermined number of tickets in one cycle of operation.

Another object of my invention is to afford a ticket issuing machine wherein upon completion of a cycle of operation of one ,of the units, no further tickets can be issued from that unit until and unless the key, which had been previously depressed to initiate the cycle of operation, is released, and has returned to normal position. i l

A commongundesirable feature of ticket issuing machines heretofore known to the art was that in some instances if the operator depressed a key to issue tickets from one unit of the machine and, during the aforesaid operation of the one unit depressed a key on another unit to initiate a ticket issuing operationin the second unit, it would often occur that only a part of the number of tickets which should have been issued from the second unit would actually be issued. Therefore, it is another object of my invention to afford my ticket issuing machine with means whereby from a point early enough in the ticket issuing cycle of operation of any one of the units until the end of that cycle of operation, the other units are effectively locked so that it is impossible to initiate `a cycle of operation of any of the other units at such a time during the cycle of operation of the first unit that only a part of the intended number of tickets will be issued.

Another disadvantageous feature common to many of thevmachines heretofore known to the art is that the internal structure and operating mechanism of the machine is made up of a multitude of moving parts which makes the machine relatively expensive to manufacture and susceptible to numerous mechanical breakdowns or failures. Hence, another object of my invention is to afford a machine embodying relatively simple mechanism which may be economically manufactured and is ruggedly constructed so as to minimize repair and maintenance work on the machine.

Motion picture theatres and like places, for whose use my novel machine is primarily intended, usually endeavor to keep a careful check on the operator or cashier who sells the tickets and, therefore, only allow a very small margin of error in checking on the cash actually taken in and the cash which should have been taken in for the number of tickets sold. One of the methods of checking on the operator, and one which is commonly relied upon for this purpose, is to check the difference in the reading of the counter on each of the ticket issuing units before and after each days performance against the cash taken in by the operator. It will be apparent that if a unit is allowed to move through a ticket-issuingcycle of operation after the ticket supply has been exhausted, the counter on that unit will register that a greater number of tickets have been issued therefrom than was actually issued. Hence, for the operators protection and to enable the management to make an accurate checkonthe number of tickets allowed to pass through a cycle of operation unless issuable tickets are pxpsent in the unit.

Therefore, another object of my-invention is to afiord my novel ticket issuing machine with means whereby each unit will be locked against operation when the issuable ticket supply in that unit becomes exhausted.

Anoth'er object of my invention is to afford a ticket issuing machine wherein a unit thereof will become locked against further operation, until more tickets. are inserted therein, whiie' there are still a sumcient number of tickets in the machine that the last ticket therein is in readily accessible position so that the ilrst ticket of the newly inserted tickets may be easily and quickly attached thereto.

It has been found that some dishonest cashiers or operators and dishonest ticket takers, who are supposed to collect and destroy the tickets sold to a customer, by acting in collusion have devised means of cheating the management of the theatres in which they work by reselling tickets previously sold and pocketing the cash. One of the ways in which this is worked is for the ticket taker to fail to tear up an occasional ticket and return the same to the cashier. Then when a customer purchases a ticket, the operator or cashier will push the previously sold ticket out to the customer and keep the cash thus taken in and later divide it with the ticket taker. Many moving picture theatre owners and managers know that this is far too prevalent a practice. However, some of the cashiers'are very adept at this ticket manipulation, and when the cashiers are allowed to handle the tickets legitimately purchased by a customer it is extremely ditlicult to detect whether the ticket received by the customer was legitimately issued or was one substituted by the cashier. As a result, most moving picture theatres, wherein ticket issuing machines are used. have a ilxed rule that the cashiers are not to handle the tickets purchased by a customer but must allow the customer, himself, to withdraw thea ticket or tickets from the opening in the top of the machine land through which the tickets are issued. In most of the modern ticket issuing machines, the tickets so issued have been severed by a, knife or knives below the top of the machine and the knife then withdrawn so that further tickets may be issued upon the next operation of the machine. In such instances, the opening or guideway beneath the counter is left open upon completion of a cycle of operation and if a customer, through clumsiness or carelessness, knocks the ticket back down into the'machine top, it will fall back into Athe working parts of the machine from which it mustbe immediately removed so that it will not be destroyed or jam up the machine. This,

naturally, causes a delay in the saleo f tickets and is an undesirable feature. Therefore, it is an object of my invention to afford. a ticket issuing machine wherein a ticket issuing opening or guideway is closed beneath the lower end of the tickets, which have been issued and severed therefrom, upon completion of a ticket'issuing.

cycle of operation of the machine with respect to a ticket exhaust detector.

Another object of my invention is to aord a ticket issuing machine whereinthe ticket severing knife remains in a position covering and closing the opening beneath the lower end of tickets, which have been issued and severed therefrom,

upon completion of a cycle of operation: and

acens-is actually issued, it is desirable that a unit not be wherein the knife is not retracted from this position until another ticket issuing cycle of operation has been initiated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ticket issuing machine wherein a unit thereof cannot be operated if the ticket supply magazine of that unit is not properly positioned within the machine.

A further object of my invention is to afford each of the units of my machine with a novel trigger mechanism which is tripped by depression of a key upon the initiation of a ticket issuing cycle of operation of that unit and which. upon the completion of the cycle of operation. locks the other keys in that unit against depression until the key which was previously depressed has been released. Another object of my invention is to provide a ticket issuing machine which is driven through ticket issuing cycles of operation by an electric motor and wherein the motor is quickly stopped from overrunning uponlcompletlon of a cycle of operation by automatic application of a brake thereto.

Another object of my invention is to afford my novel ticket issuing machine with a novel and practical clutch or indexing mechanism which operates to cause the correct number of tickets to be issued from the machine during a ticket issuingv cycle of operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ticket issuingmachine which is effectively locked at all times against manual operation of the parts. to issue tickets without actuation of the counter attached thereto to register the number of tickets so issued.

Other and further objects .of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best modes in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor vequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings, o

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a thee- .unit ticket machine embodying the principles of Fig. 6 is a detail plan view showing the prel ferred form of ticket severing knife used in my machine;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially along the line 'l-I of Fig. 6, showing the ticket severing knife and the trap door through which the tickets are issued;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional plan view taken substantially just below the upper cover of my machine and showing the three units in their relative positions within the casing;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section, of the upper portion of one unit of my machine and is taken substantially on the line lillll of Fig. 8 and shows the parts on the rack side of the unit as they appear in their normal position prior to the initiation of a cycle of operation;

Fig. l1 is a detail view illustrating the association of the rack bar and trigger mechanism embodied in my machine;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 and shows the position of the parts as they= would appear after approximately three-quarters of a complete cycle of operation;

Fig. 13 is a view similary to Figs. 10 and 12 and shows the parts as they would appear just prior to the completion of a cycle of operation and just prior to actuation of the ticket severing knife in a ticket severing direction;

Fig. 14 is a view, partly in section, taken substantially along the line I4|4 of Fig. 8 and showing the parts on the reel side of a unit in full line as they would appear prior to the actuation of the clutch member or indexing plate, and in dotted lines as they would appear after actuation or engagement of the clutch member or in- I or indexing plate and is taken substantially on the Fig. 18 is a detail view of the bell crank lever used to actuate the clutch member or indexing plate and shows the stop plate, used in my machine, attached thereto; I

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. l0 but showing the rear end portion of a ticket issuing unit of a modified form of my machine, and showing the parts in a position substantially corresponding to the position of the parts shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 and showing the parts'in the modified form of my machine in a position substantially corresponding 'to the position of the parts shown in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 19 and` showing the parts in the modified form of my machine in a position substantially corresponding to the position of the parts shown in Fig'. 13.

The machine shown in the accompanying drawings embodies a casing 30 which encloses three ticket issuing units A, B and C. The ticket issuing units A, B and C are identical in operation and construction and, therefore, for the purpose of describing my invention, it will only be necessary to describe the operation of one unit thereof, and

identical reference numerals will be given to the same Vparts on the diierent units.I It will be understood that a machine having a greater or lesser number of ticket issuing units may be used without departing from the purview of my invention, and that a three-unit machine is shown here merely for the purpose of illustration.

General construction of the machine they are fastened by means of bolts or screws 31a. The rear wall 33 is secured to the rear flanges 39 of the side walls by suitable fastening means such' as screws 49, and the front wall or door 34 is swlngingly mounted on the front edge portion of the side Wall 3| by hinges 34a.

Supporting rods 4|, 42 and 43 extend between the side walls 3| and 32 of the casing 30, as best shown in Figs. 5. 8 and 9, and are mounted thereon by means of screws 41h, 42u/ and 43h. -The -units A, B and C each have a supporting plate 44 which comprises the central supporting member for the working parts of that unit, and each of these supporting plates 44 have openings 4Ia, 42a and 43a through which the supporting rods 4|, 42 and 43, respectively, extend to thereby support the units A, B and C. Screws 45 (Fig. 8) are threaded into internally threaded openings formed in the' supporting plates 44 adjacent to the openings 4Ia, 42a and 43 radially thereof and may be securely tightened against the supporting rods 4|, 42 and 43 inserted through theopenings Ma, 42a and 43a, respectively, to hold the units A, B and C in their proper position upon the supporting rods" 4|, 42 and 43 and within thecasing 30.

The top wall or cover plate 35 has a rearwardly and downwardly extending hook 46 fastened to the rear lower surface thereof and which, when the cover plate is in position on the casing hooks under the supportingrod 4I so as to prevent raising of the rear end portion of the cover plate 35. The lower front end portion of the cover plate 35 has a depending plate 41 fastened thereto; the plate 41' having a'pin 48 protruding therefrom which is engageable-with a hook 49 on a spring-urged arm 50 which is pivotally mounted on the side wall 3l by means of a screw 5| so that when the cover plate 35 is placed in position on the casing 30, by rst engaging the hook y46 with the supporting rod 4| and then lowering the front of the cover plate 35 into position so that the pin 48 is engaged with the hook 49, the cover plate 35 is securely held in position on tle casing 30. It will be understood that if and when it is desired to remove the'cover plate 35, this may easily be accomplished by turning the spring-urged arm upon its pivot 5| and out of engagement with the pin 48.

The cover plate 35 of (the three-unit machine shown in the accompanying drawings has three trap doors one of which is positioned above each,

of the units A, B and C and through which tickets are issued to a customerduring the `operation of my machine.

The arm rest 36 is fastenedv to the top front end portion of my casing by means of screws 53 and 54 and has three sets of four keys 55 protruding upwardly through the rear end portion thereof; one set of keys 55 extends from each of the units A, B and C and protrudes upwardly through the arm rest 36. forwardly of the trap doors 52.

An electric motor 56 is mounted on the left side wall of the casing 30 and has a brake 51 operated by relay V53 associated therewith for purposes which will be presently described. Electrical sockets 59, 60 and 6I are connected to the motor 56 and provide means by which units A, B and C, respectively, may be electrically connected to the motor 56. Reduction gears (not shown) are enclosed within a housing 62 on top of the motor 56 and a drive shaft 63 extends inwardly therefrom through the side wall 3| and afford driving means for each of the units A,

B and C as will be presently described. As best shown in Fig. 8, vthe units A, B and C have drive shafts 88 which are coupled together by ymeans of couplings 88 after the units have been inserted in proper position in the machine. The drive shaft 55 on the unit nearest to the motor 58 has a pulley 81 pinned or otherwise secured to the outer end portion thereof in radial alignment with the drive pulley 84. A belt 88 is positioned around the drive pulley 84 and the driven pulley 81 and thereby operatively connects the vdrive shafts 55 of the units A, B and C to the shaft 88 and, thereby, to the motor 58. A bell crank lever 88 is pivoted to the side wall 8| of the casing 88 by means of a screw 18. A roller 1| is mounted on the outer end portion of one arm 12 of the bell crank lever 88, and is urged forwardly by a spring 18, which acts on the other arm 18 of the bell crank lever 88, into engagement with the belt 8l and thereby maintains the pulley belt 88 properly tensioned upon the pulleys 88 and 81.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, each of the units A, B and C includes a ticket magazine which is adapted to hold a supply of folded tickets T. Each of the ticket magazines 15 is open at the front but has side walls 18 and 18a, a rear wall 18h anda channel-shaped bottom end portion 18 adapted to engage and slide upon a complementary trackway 11 formed in the bottom wall 81 of the casing 88 below each of the units A, B and C. The side wall 18 of each of the magazines 15 has rollers 18 and 88 attached thereto for reasons which will be presently described and has a forked extension 8| attached to the upper end portion thereof and which is slldably engageable with the lower end portion of the corresponding supporting plate 88 in each of the units A, B and C. By this construction any of the magazines 18 may be slid forwardly on the track 11 to project outwardly from the casing 88 when it is desired to place a new supply of tickets therein, and are held in proper vertical position upon the track'11 by means of the arm 8| which maintains its engagement with the lower edge portion of the supporting plate 44 of the particular unit with which the magazine 15, which has been slid forwardly, is associated.

As heretofore stated, when tickets are to be inserted in the magazines 15, door 88 of the casing 88 may be opened and the magazines 15 slide forwardly out of the casing 88. A new supply of folded tickets T may then be placed in the magazine 15 and the ,leading end portion of the new supply of tickets T is then threaded to the rear of the rollers 18 and 88 and forwardly of a lever 82 which is pivoted to and depends from the supporting plate 84 of that unit by means of a shaft 88 to which it is secured by a screw 88. (The purpose and operation of the lever 82 will be presently described.) The leading end of the tickets T are then threaded upwardly into the shield 85 as best shown in Figs. 5,

riphery thereof which are so spaced thei earound that consecutive pins 88 on the reel 88 are adapted to engage holes 81 between correspondingly consecutive pairs of tickets positioned upon the shield 85 outwardly of the reel 88. As best shown in Fig. 15, the shield 85 has a slot 88 provided therein through which the pins 88 on the ,y reel 88 protrude so as to engage the tickets 'I' 14 and 15, and over a reel or ticket issuing wheel 88, below a guard 888, which maintains the ticket strip T in engagement with the shield 85 over the reel 88, as will be presently described. 'Ihe strips of tickets T commonly used in machines of which are threaded over the shield 85, and in the operation of mymachinefit is the advancement of a predetermined proper number of pinsl 88 upwardly through the slot 88, by controlling the rotation of the reel 88, which effects the issuance of a predetermined numberlof tickets, as will be presently\described. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 14, during a ticket issuing operation of my machine, the tickets to be issued are pushed upwardly over the upper end portion of the shield by the pins 88 on the reel 88 and outwardly through the slot |88 and the trap door 52, where they may begrasped and withdrawn by the customer after being severed from the tickets remaining in the machine by a knife |8|. Y

The guard 888 (as best shown in Figs. 4, 5, 8, 14 and 15) acts, as previously stated, to maintain the ticket strip T in engagement with the shield 88 over the slot 88 therein to insure that the pins 88 on the reel 88 which protrude through the slot 88 will engage the holes 81 on the ticket strip T.

The guard 888 consists of two strips or plates 88|, which are secured to each other in spaced relationship by spacing members 888 and are curved to fit around the shield 85 and the reel 85 in close relationship thereto at that portion of the shield 85 which curves over the reel 85, as best shown in Fig. 14. The guard 888 is pivotally mounted on the shield 85 by a pin or screw 888, which extends through the upper rear end portion of the plates 88|, so that when tickets are being inserted in my machine, over the shield 85, the guard 888 may be swung or pivoted upwardly out of the way to expedite the insertion of the ticket strip T between it and the shield 85.

A pin 884 extends outwardly from the plates 88| of the guard 888, as best shown in Fig. 5, and when the guard is in its normal lowered position, wherein it maintains the ticket strip T in engagement with the shield 85, a hook 885 on alatch member 885 which is pivotally mounted on the shield 85 by means of a screw 881 and which is urged to rotate in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 5) by a spring 888, engages the pin 888 and effectively holds the guard 888 in its lowered position over the shield 85 and the ticket issuing reel 88. When. it is desired to raise the guard 888, as when, for example, tickets are being inserted in the machine, the operator may press rearwardly on a finger piece or projection 888 formed on the upper end portion of the latch member 888, and thereby rotate the latch member 888 around its pivot 881 and thereby retract the hook 885 from its engagement with the pin 884 and the guard 888 is then free to be turned into raised position about its pivot pin 888.

The casing 88 and the general association of the units A, B and C of my machine having been described, a more detailed description of the con struction and operation of the various ticket issuing units will now 4be made. As has been previously stated. each of the units A, B and C of my machine are identical in construction and operation and, therefore, for a complete understanding of the construction and operation of my machine, it will only benecessary to describe the construction and operation of one of them together with the manner in which the various units are associated.

Description of the ticket issuing units As best shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13, a rack or rack bar 90 is slidably mounted for substantially vertical movement in guides or guideways 9| and 92 attached to one side of the supporting plate 44 of each of the units A, B and C. The rack 90 in each of the units A, B and C is also slidably mounted on a rod 90a which is attached to an ear 90b projecting from the supporting plate 44, and which rod depends from the ear 90b into a cavity 90o in the upper end portion on the rack 90. A spring 90d is positioned within the cavity 90o and presses upwardlylagainst the lower end portion of the rod 90a and downwardly against the rack 90 to thereby urge the rod 90 to move downwardly.

The rack 90 may perhaps be, termed the principal or basic working part of each of the units of my machine because it is the operation of this y member upon which the operation of the ticket issuing units of my machine directly depend, and it is the variation in the movement of the rack 90 which determines the number of tickets which will be issued in a cycle of operation of my machine. This side of the supporting plate 44'upon which the rack 90 is mounted, will be hereinafter referred to as the rack side of the unit as distinguished from the side on which the ticket issuing reel 86 is mounted (see Figs. 5 land 14), and which will hereinafter be referred to as the reel side of the unit.

In its normal or non-ticket issuing position. the rack 90 is raised to its uppermost limit, as best shown in Fig. 10, and is held in this position by a trigger mechanism 93 which includes an upper trigger 94, a lower trigger 95,'a link 96 and a trip lever 91. on the supporting plate 44 by means of a screw 98 and at its free end carries thel upper trigger 94 and the trip lever 91 pivotally mounted thereon by a screw 99. The lower trigger 95 is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 44 by means of a screw or pin 00 and has a forwardly extending arm |0| which is adapted to engage the link 96 on the under side thereof and has a rearwardly extending tip |0|a adapted to engage in a rounded cavity |02, formed in the lower front side of the rack 90, when the rack 90 is in normal or raised position. Also when the rack 90 is in normal or raised position, the free end portion |03 of the upper trigger 94 engages a pin |04 provided in a cavity |05 in the front side of the rack 90, and when so engaged. the link 96 on which the trigger 94 is pivotally mounted, rests upon the upper or pinned end portion of the lower trigger 95 so that the downward or clockwise movement of the trigger 94 and the link 96 is limited thereby, and, hence, this engagement of the trigger 94 with the pin |04 holds the rack 90 in its upward or raised position. A spring |06 has one end`secured to the lower end portion of the upper trigger 94 as by means of a .pin |01 and has the other end portion thereof fastened to the guideway 92 and thereby tends to maintain the upper trigger 94 in lowered position so as to engage the pin |04 on the rack bar 90..

The rack 90 has teeth |00 formed on the rear side thereof and these teeth are in constant engagement with the teeth |09 on a pinion ||0 which is formed on the end portion of a shaft which extends through and is joumaled in an The link 96 is pivotally mounted opening formed in the supporting plate 44. As best shown in Fig. 16, the shaft extends through the supporting plate 44 from the rack side thereof and protrudes outwardly from the reel side thereof, and the reel or ticket wheel 86 is rotatably mounted on this latter portion of the shaft The reel side end portion of the shaft lll has an enlarged square portion ||2 which, when the shaft||| is in its normal position in the supporting plate 44, butts against the ree1 86 and presses it against a boss ||4 which protrudes from the supporting plate 44. Also, slidably mounted von the square enlarged end portion ||2 of the shaft is a clutch member or indexing plate ||3, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

As best shown in Figs. 14 and 16, the reel 06 has holes ||5 extending therethrough which are in radial alignment with the peripheral pins 88. A pin 6 is slidably mounted in a sleeve ||6a which is attached to the outer side of the peripheral edge portion of the indexing plate 3, and the pin ||6 is urged inwardly by a spring ||6b, mounted within the sleeve ||6a, so that it normally projects through an opening' in the indexing plate 3 and is adapted to engage in any one of the holes ||5 in the reel 86, with which it is aligned, when the indexing plate is pressed inwardly during the operation of my machine, as will be presently described. It will be noted that the-slidable mounting of the pin 6 is a safety measure so that if it should happen that the reel and indexing plate should get out of alignment so that when the indexing Vplate is pressed inwardly the pin I6 is not in alignment with the hole ||5 in the reel but engages the solid outer face of the reel 86, 'the pin ||6 will move inwardly against the action of the spring ||6b and thereby prevent jamming and straining of the parts.

In general, the operation of a unit of my machine consists in allowing the rack 90 to drop a predetermined amount while the indexing plate ||3 is disengaged from the reel 86 and thereby rotate the indexing plate I|3 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 14) so that the pin ||6 in the indexing plate I3 is in axial alignment with a predetermined one of the holes ||5 in the reel 86; and thereafter press the indexing plate ||3 inwardly so as to engage the pin ||6 Awith the hole ||5 aligned therewith; and then raise the rack 90 back to its normal or raised position and thereby turn the pinion I I0, the indexing plate ||3 and the reel 86 the predetermined amount xed by the distance through' which the rack' 90 was allowed to drop, so that the pins 88 on the reel 86 and which are in engagement with the tickets T are caused to move through a predetermined circumferential distance, determined by the distance through which the'rack 90 and indexing plate ||3 must move to return to their normal positions. The controlled movement of the reel 86 thereby ,advances the proper number of tickets T upwardly through the -shield and outwardly through the trap doors 52 in the cover plate 95, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

`As I have chosen .to illustrate my machine, each unit includes four keys 55 and each of the keys are capable, upon depression thereof, to initiate a cycle of operation `of my machine, and controls mechanism which will allow the rack 90 to` fall a predetermined distance, and inasmuch as each of the four keys 55 allows the rack 90 tofall 94 diSSJlGQ different from the distance determined by the other keys in the same unit, it will be understood that these keys provide means for regulating or controlling the travel of the rack 33 and thereby the rotation of the pinion and the indexing plate ||3, and thereby affords effective means for controlling the rotation of the ticket reel 33 and the number of tickets issued in any 'one operation of my machine.

Each of the keys is mounted on a key stem ||1 which is pivotally mounted on one arm ||3 of a key lever` ||3. which is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 44 by a screw |23, and the other arm |2| of which extends downwardly between guide plates |22, which are mounted on the supporting plate 44, and is adapted to engage the'front end portion of a corresponding key slide |23 which is horizontally slidably mounted on the supporting plate 44 by means of a guideway |24 and a screw |23 which extends through the guide plates |22. and through a slot |23 in the key slide 23. The key slide |23 has a projection or trip |21 which extends upwardly therefrom and is adapted to engage the lower end portion of the trip lever 31 on the trigger mechanism 33 when the key slide |23 is slid rearwardly and the trigger mechanism 33 is in its normal rack holding position. Rearwardly' of the trip I 21 on the key slide |23, a lug or stop |23 is provided which projects upwardly therefrom and which is adapted to engage the lower end portion of the rack 33 to stop or check the fall of the rack 33 when the key slide |23 is slid rearwardly and the trip |21 has engaged the lower end portion of the trigger trip 31 to release the rack 33. Therefore, it will be seen that by varying the length of the lugs or stops |23 on the various key slides |23 which are adapted to be slid rearwardly by the depression ot the corresponding key Il, and which action initiates a ticket issuing cycle of operation ofl my machine, as will be presently described, the distance through which the rack 33 can move in a cycle of operation is effectively controlled. For example, if it is desired to issue only one ticket from my machine in a cycle of operation, the No. 1 key 33 is depressed which turns the corresponding lever 3 on its pivot |23 and slides the corresponding key slide |23 rearwardly so that the tripI|21 thereon engages the trigger trip 31 on the trigger mechanism 33 and releases `the rack 33 so that it falls until in engagement with the stop |23 on the No. 1 key slide, which is the tallest of the stops |23, and when the rack 33 so comes to rest, it will have dropped through a relatively short distance'. However, if instead of desiring to issue one ticket it was desired to issue four tickets, the No. 4 key'tl would have been depressed, thereby pivoting the corresponding lever ||3 on its pivot point |23 and pressing the corresponding key slide |23 forwardly to release the trigger anism 33 and allow the rack 33 to drop. but this time the rack 33 would have dropped until it engaged the stop |23 on the No. 4 key slide, and in this instance would have dropped through a distance approximately four times that which it would have dropped had the No. 1 key been depressed for the issuance of one ticket.

. An electric switch |23, which is adapted to make and break the electrical circuit through the motor 33 which is the source of power for my novel machine,`is mounted on the lower rear end manipulation of which controls the opening and closing ofthe switch contacts. A switch lever 3| is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 44 by means of a pin |32 and has a wedge tip |33 slidably mounted on the lower end portion thereof by means of a pin and slot connection |34-|33. When the parts oi' the ticket issuing unit are in their normal or non-ticket issuing position, as shown in Fig. 10, the wedge tip |33 is positioned under a roller |33 fastened to the lower rear end portion of a lever |33 by means of a screw |43, and thereby is pressed downwardly upon the rear end portion of a spring lock plate |33, which is pivoted to the supporting plate 44 by means of a screw |31, and the downward pressure on the rear end portion ot the spring lock plate |33 raises the forward end portion thereof for a reason which will presently be explained, and also depresses the switch button |33, inwhich position of the switch button |33, the switch |23 is open so that the electrical circuit through the motor 33 is open and the motor is stopped. 'I'he lever |33 is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 44 by means of a screw or pin |4|, and the forward end portion of the lever |33 is forked and engages a roller on a pin or screw |42 extending outwardly from the rack side of the rack 33.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that when it is desired to issue a certain number of tickets, the operator presses the proper key 33 thereby rocking the corresponding key lever ||3 on its pivot |23 which slides the corresponding key slide |23 rearwardly through its guides so that the trip |21 engages and presses the lower end portion of the trigger trip 31 rearwardly, through which action the portion 31a on the ltrigger trip 31 engages and presses the portion 34a on the upper trigger 34 rearwardly thereby rocking the upper trigger 34 in a counterclockwise direction and releasing the upper end portion |33 thereof from its engagement with the pin |34 in the rack bar 33. The disengagement of the upper trigger 34 from the rack bar 33 allows the rack bar 33 to fall until it comes to rest on the stop |23 which has been positioned thereunder by the rearward movement of the key slide |23. The downward motion of the-rack bar 33 cams the lower trigger 33 of the trigger mechanism 33 in a clockwise direction so that the rearwardly extending arm |3| thereof presses upwardly on the lower surface of the link 33 and .thereby pivots the link 33 about its pivot point 33 and thereby raises the upper trigger 34 and the trigger trip 31 `so that the lower end portion of -the trigger trip 31 clears the trip |21 on the key' slide |23 (as best shown in Pig. 12). The downward motion of the rack 33 also carries the forked or forward end portion of the lever |33 downwardlyftherewith and rocks the lever |33 in a counterclockwise direction so that the roller |33 on the lower end portion thereof is raised from engagement with the wedge tip |33 on the lation.

Each or the key slides m,- four of which are nested in parallel vrelation in each unit. has a slot |43 provided in the upper rearward portion thereof which is normally'dispose'd directly be- 10W a hook |44 on the forward end portion of the spring locking member |36, as is best shown in Fig. 10. A second slot |45 is provided in the upper edge portion of each of the key slides |23, forwardly of the slots |43, and when a key 55 is depressed and a corresponding key slide |23 i's slid rearwardly to initiate a cycle of operation of my machine, the slot |45 therein is in alignment with the slots |43 in the other or unactuated key slides in that unit, and-When the lever |38 rotates in a counterclockwise direction to release the wedge tip |33 and the switch button |30, it also frees the spring lock lever |36 to rotate around its pivot point |31 and thereby press the hook 44 into engagement with the slots |43 in the key slides |23 which have remained stationary and also into engagement with thev aligned slot |45 on the actuated key slide |23 and thereby effectively locks the key slides |23 in that unit which are not actuated so that the corresponding keys thereof cannot be depressed, and holds the key slide |23 which has been actuated in the rearward position to which it has been moved.

A slot |46 is also provided in the upper surface 'of each of the key slides |23, forwardly of the slots |45, and is adapted to cooperate with a hook |41 on a lever |48, which is pivoted on the supporting plate |44 by means of a pin |48 and which has an arm |50 pivotally mounted on the other end portion thereof by means of a screw as will be more fully described hereinafter. A cam lever or knife actuating lever |52 isA pivotally mounted on the rack side of the supporting plate |44 by means of a screw |53, and the lower end portion |54 thereof is adapted to engage a cam |55 which is mounted on the drive shaft 65 on the rack side of the supporting plate 44- and which will hereinafter be termed the rack cam to differentiate it from the cam |56 which isv fastened to the drive shaft 65 on the reel side of the supporting plate 44 and which will hereinafter be called the reel cam. The

vrearfend portion of a link |51 is pivotally mounted by means of a screw |58 to the upper end portion of the knife actuating lever |52, and the front end portion of the link |51 has a slot |59 formed therein which'is engaged with an end portion |60 on the knife blade |6| (as best seen in Figs. 6 and 10), and is adapted to pivot the knife blade |6| about its other end portion which is pivotally connected toa plate |62 by means and which plate is fastened to of a screw |63 the upper edge portion of the supporting plate 44 by means of screws |64,

When the mechanism of the ticket issuing unit is in its normal non-issuing position, the knife |6| in each of the units A, B and C is in its forward position as best shown in Fig. 10, and upon depression of a key 55 and the consequent lowering of the rack 90 and counterclockwise rotation of the lever |39 to close the switch |28 in the actuated unit, the drive shaft 65 is conse quently driven by the motor 56, which turns the cam" |55 in each of the units A, B and C, in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. and a pin |65 mounted on the leading tip |66 thereof engages a tip or projection |61 which extends forwardly from the knife actuating lever |52 and thereby causes the knife actuating lever |52'to pivot about its pivot point |53 in a clockwise direction, thus movingthe vlink |51 in a rearward direction and retracting the knife blade |6| in each of the units A, B and C. In the preferred form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 18, inclusive, the rear tip |68 of the rack cam |55 in each of the units A, B and C, simul-v taneously with the engagement of the pin |66 with the tip |61 on the knife actuating lever |52, clears a roller |68 which is mounted on the rear end portion of the arm |50, which is pivoted to the4 locking lever |48, and the tension of a spring |10 which is fastened to the forward end portion of the arm |59, causes the arm |50 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction around its pivot point |5| on the locking lever |48 and, because the forward end portion of the arm |50 engages the locking lever |48, rocks the hook |41 on the forward vend portion of the locking lever |48 downwardly into engagement with the key slides |23. However, because one of the key slides |23 of the unit which has beenactuated has been displaced rearwardly from its normal position, the slot |46 therein is moved out of alignment with the slots |46 in the other key slides |23 in that unit and the hook |41 cannot engage with the slots therein but comes to rest upon the upper edge surface on the actuated key slide |23.- However, inasmuch as the cams on all of the units A, B and C rotate with their` drive shafts 65 upon closing of a switch |29 in any one of the units A, B and C, the rear tip or trailing tip |63 on the cams |55 in the other units have also cleared the arms |50 on the locking levers |48 thereof, and the locking levers |48 in these other or non-actuated units have likewise been'rotated in a counterclockwise direction and the hooks |41 in these units engage in the slots |46 which, inasmuch as the key slides |23 in these units have not been actuated, are still in alignment with each other. it will be noted that the key slides |23 in the other or non-actuated units are effectively held by the hooks |41 against actuation so that a ticket issuing cycle of operation in these units.

A spring |12, in each of the units A, B and Cy Ais fastened to the rear end portion of the supporting plate 44 and to the lower end portion of the switch lever 3| and constantly urges the latterto rotate in a counterclockwise direction around its pivot |32. However, when a unit of my machine is in its normal, unactuated position, the rear or lower end portion of the knife actuating lever |52 therein, is engaged with a pin I1| attached to the upper end portion of the switch lever |3|, as best shown in Fig. 10, and this engagement of the pin' |1| with the lower end portion of the knife actuating lever |52 effectively restrains the switch lever |3| from the counterclockwise rotation through which the spring |12 fastened on the lower end portion thereof urges it. But, upon initiation of a cycle of operation, when the cam |55 rotates the knife actuating lever |52 in a clockwise direction, as previously set forth, the lower end portion of the lever |52 is moved away from the pin |1| on the switch |3| and, upon thus being freed, the switch lever |3| is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the spring |12 and hence the wedge Therefore, l

circular-shaped inner cam surface |13 of the reel cam |88, of each of the units A. B and C (as best shown in Fig. 14), has been engaged with a roller |18 which is fastened to the rear end portion of a lever |18 by means of a screw 18. The lever |18 is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 88, on the reel side thereof, by means of a -screw |11, and the forward lower end portion thereof is in engagement with the lower arm |18 on a bell crank lever |18 which is pivotally mounted on an arm |88, which is fastened to, and projects outwardly from, the reel side of the supporting plate 88, by means of a pin |8| extending therethrough. The upper end portion of the upper arm |82 of the bell crank lever |18 is in engagementy with the hub or knob |88 on the indexing plate H3 so that when the lower arm |18 of the bell crank lever |18 is depressed, the upper arm |82 of the bell crank lever |18 will press the indexing plate ||3 inwardly and thereby engage the pin I8 carried thereby with a hole I on the reel 88 with which it is axially aligned.

As has been previously stated, the indexing plate |I8 is mounted on the square, reel side end portion of the shaft and a spring |88 is mounted in a cavity |88 formed in the reel end portion of the shaft and presses outwardly on the hub |83 of the indexing plate ||3, and thereby urges the indexing plate Il! out of engagement with the reel 88.

When the tickets T are properly threaded in my machine, they extend upwardly through the shield 88 over the reel 88 and upwardly into a slot |88 in the knife supporting plate |82 which is fast to the upper edge portion of the supporting plate 88. Prior to the initiation of a ticket issuing cycle of operation, the leading edge of the ticket strip T butts against the lower surface of the knife |8| which, as previously stated, is normally in a forward position and when so positioned covers the slot |88. This, it will be seen, I

is a desirable feature of my machine, in that tickets which are issued through the trap door 52 are supposed to be removed therefromonly by the customer purchasing the same and are not supposed to be handled by the operator of the machine and in some instances a customer.

through clumsiness or carelessness, might perhaps fail to grasp the ticket and jam it down through the trap door 82 in the cover plate 32 of the casing 38. and if the knife 8| were not positioned over the slot |88 could jam it down onto the ticket strip T over the reel 88 where it would be somewhat diilicult to remove and would delay the operator in issuing further tickets. With the knife |8| covering the slot |88 through which the tickets issue, as provided in my machine, it is difficult, if not impossible. to accidentally push a ticket back through the trap door 82, because the knife. |8| is positioned so close to the trap door 82 that the ticket must be bent sharply at its middle in order for the upper end portion of the ticket to be pressed below the cover plate 32 of my machine. However, even if a customer does manage to push an issued ticket back through the trap door 82, the ticket would be lying on the knife supporting plate |82 and it could be easilyand quickly recovered by the operator by simply raising the cover plate 32 of the machine.v

In order to hold the reel 88 against accidental rotation, a holding arm |81 is secured to the reel' side end portion of the pin |88 which rotates with the locking lever |88 when the rear tip |88 of the rack cam |85 clears the rear end portion of the arml |88, as previously described, and turns downwardly or in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 14, out of engagement with a pin |88 which protrudes outwardly from the outer side surface of the reel 88, and with which it is `normally engaged. When the holding lever |81 is normally engaged with any one of the pins |88 on the reel |88, it tends to restrain the reel 88 from clockwise or ticket issuingl rotation and also presses the reel 88 in a counterclockwise direction until one of the pins 88 on the periphery of the reel 88 engages a spring plate |88 which is mounted on the reel side of the supporting plate |88 by means of a screw |88, so that the holding lever |81 normally acts both to hold the reel 88 from rotation and also tofproperly position the reel 88. However, as previously stated. substantially simultaneously with the retraction of the knife blade |8| the locking lever |88 is dropped into engagement with the key slides |23 and thereby rotates the screw |873 so that the holding lever |81 is rotated out of engagement with the pin |88 on the reel 88, and therefore, if this were the only holding mechanism for the reel 88, the. reel could be manually turned in a counterclockwise or ticket issuing direction and as a result vtickets might be issued therefrom without actuation of the' rack 88.

Inasmuch as the counting mechanism |8| which tabulates the number of tickets issued consists of the standard counter having a ratchet Wheel |82 and which is engaged with teeth |83 on a rack plate |88 which is secured to the upper end portion of the rack 88 and which is geared to tabulate the number of tickets issued in accordance with the distance through which the rack 88 falls upon the initiation of a ticket issuing cycle of operation. it is seen that if the holding arm |81 were relied upon entirely to restrain the ticket reel from being manually turned, that there would be an interval of time between the time when the holding arm |81 were rotated until the time the indexing plate H3 is engaged with the reel 88, that the reel 88 could be manually turned. Therefore, a stop plate |88 is provided on the upper surface of the lower arm |18 of the bell crank lever |18 which extends toward the rear of the machine and, when the bell crank lever is in its normal position, engages one of the peripheral pins 88 on the reel 88 and acts as a check against counterclockwise rotation of the reel 88. The stop plate |88 is so shaped that it maintains engagement with the peripheral pin 88 on the reel 88 until the bell crank lever has been rotated suillciently to engage the pin ||8 on the indexing plate ||3 with the hole H8 in the reel 88, and therefore, it will be apparent that it acts .as a double check to insure that there'will be no point in the operation of the machine wherein the reel 88 alone may be manually rotated.

As previously stated, during theA first portion of the ticket issuing cycle of operation of a unit of my machine, and upiuntil the time the cam |58 has actuated the knife actuating lever |82 to retract the knife |82, the roller |18v on the lever |15 is in engagement with the substantially circular-shaped inner cam surface |13 of the reel cam |58. However, shortly thereafter the further rotation oi' the drive shaft 88 brings the raised portion '|98 ofthe cam |88 into engagement with the roller |18 on the lever |18, and

raises the roller |18 which causes.l the lever |18 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 14, whereby the lower end portion of the lever |15 is lowered and depresses the lower arm |18 of the bell crank lever |19, causing the upper arm |82 of the bell crank level` |19 to move inwardly and press the indexing plate ||8 inwardly toward the reel 86, against the action of the spring |84, and thereby press the pin ||6 carried by the indexing plate ||3 into engagement with one of the holes ||5 in the reel 66, so that upon counterclockwise rotation of the indexing plate ||3 the reel 86 will now be likewise rotated and will advance tickets T upwardly through the trap door 52.

VUpon continued rotation of the drive shaft 65,

the roller |14 is now in engagement with the substantially circular-shaped outer cam surface |96 on the reel cam |56, the rack cam |55 is turned so that the pin |65 on the leading tip |66 thereof engages a projection |91 on the upper rear end portion of the lever |39 (asbest shown in Fig. 12) on the ticket issuing unit which has been actuated, and cams the rear end portion of the lever |39 thereof downwardly so as to rotate the lever |39 in clockwise direction, and thereby elevates the vrack 90 into its normal raisedposition where the spring |06 acts on the trigger mechanism 93 to again engage the upper trigger 94 with the pin |04 and press the lower trigger 95 into the cavity or depression |02 formed vin therack 90 to thereby hold the rack 90 in its normal or raised position. Inasmuch as the keys of the other units of my machine have not been depressed the racks 90 thereof have not dropped and, therefore, the levers |39 in these units are in their normal positions sowthatthefrollers |65 on the corresponding cams |55 donot' engage the projections |91 on the levers |39 of these unactuated units.

As previously set forth, the rack teeth |08 on the rack bars 90 are in constant engagement with the teeth |09 on the pinion ||0 and the downward movement of the rack 90 in the one unit of my machine, following the depression of one of kthe keys 55 of that unit, which initiated the ticket-issuing cycle of operation of my machine, caused the indexing plate ||3 of that unit to be vturned in a clockwise direction (as seen in Fig. 14) so that the pin ||6 thereon was moved into alignment with the hole ||5 in the reel 86 with which it was subsequently engaged upon inward movement of the indexing plate ||3 caused by the rotation of the lever in a clockwise direction by the action of the reel cam |56, and the consequent rotation of the bell crank leverv |19; all of which operations have been previously described. Similarly now at this point in the operation of my machine, when the roller |65 on the* rack cam |55 engages the 'projection |91 on the lever |39 and rotates the lever |39 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 12), the rack teeth |08 on the rack 90 are in engagement with the teeth |09 on lthe pinion ||0 and, therefore, the reverse or upward movement of the rack 90 into normal'position caused by the rotation of the lever |39, as previously described, causes the indexing plate ||3 to turn in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 14). time the pin I6 on the indexing plate ||3 causes a like rotation of the reel 86 and thereby 'advances the ticket strip T upwardly through the slot |86 and the trap door 52 to issue the proper predetermined number of tickets as determined by the length of the stroke of the rack 90 and the consequent rotation of the indexing plate ||3 and the reel 86, which in turn is determined by which key was depressed and therefore which stop |28 was positioned below the rack 90 to limit the fall thereof. Also, during the upward movementof the rack 90, the rack teeth |93 on the rack plate |94 attached to the upper end portion thereof are engaged with the teeth on the ratchetA heel |92 of the counter |9| and cause the whel |92 to rotate in a reverse direction, in which direction the ratchet mechanism renders the counter inoperative and therefore the wheel |92 is roltated without changing the reading on the coun- The clockwise rotation of the lever |39 of the actuated unit, effected by the engagement of the roller |65 on the cam |55 with the abutment |91 on the lever |39, caused the lower end por- `tion of the lever |39 and hence the roller |38 thereon, to again be lowered directly over the switch button |30 on the switch |29, but because the switch lever |3| and the wedge tip |33 have been retracted by the action of the Ispring |12, the roller |38 does not engage the wedge tip |33 and therefore does not depress the switch button |30 to open the switch |29 and deenergize the motor 56.

Upon continued rotation of the drive shafts 65, and, therefore, of the rack cam |55 and the reel cam |56 of each of the units A, B and C, theleading tip |66 of each of the rack cams |55 engages the roller |69 on the corresponding arm and causes the arm |50 and the lock lever |48, and therefore the pin |49 and the holding lever |81 to rotate in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 10) whereby the hook |41 on the lock lever |48 in each of the units A, B and C is disengaged from the slots |46 in the key slides |23 of the units which have not been actuated, and the holding lever |81 is again moved However, this up into engagement with a pin |88 on the reel 86 to hold the reel 86 against rotation.

Upon further rotation of the shaft 65 and therefore of the rack cam |55 and the reel cam |56 and substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the roller |65 on the leading tip of the rack cam |55 with the lower end portion of the knife actuating lever |52, and the reel cam |56 turns to such a position that the raised cam surface |96 thereon has moved out of registration with the roller |14 on the lever |15 so that the roller |14 is free to again move into engagement with the inner cam surface |13 on the reel cam .|56. The leverA |15 being so freed for counterclockwise rotation (as viewed in Fig.

14), the spring |84 acting on the hub |83 of the indexing plate ||3 moves the indexing plate ||3 away from the reel 86, and therefore the pin ||6 out of engagement with the holes ||5 in the reel |86, and thereby rocks the bell crank lever |19 to raise the lower arm |18 thereof so that the stop' plate |95 thereon again engages an adjacent peripheral pin 88 on the reel 86, and so that the, lever |15 rotates in a counterclockwise direction to engage the roller |14 thereon with the inner cam surface |13 on the reel cam |56, with which surface it remains engaged throughout the rest of the cycle lof operation.

As previously stated, the pin |65 on the leading tip |66 of the rack cams |55 of each of the units A, B and C engaged the lower end portion |54 of the knife actuating lever |52 of the corresponding unit almost simultaneously with the disengagement of the indexing plate ||3 from the reel 86 in the actuated unit, and upon further rotation of the shafts 65 and the rackcams |55, the rollers |65 press against the lower end portion |54 of the corresponding knife actuating 

